The Sandiganbayan Third Division on Friday deferred the arraignment of former Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and 10 other former officials of the Department of Energy (DOE) in connection with a graft case involving the US$565-million Malampaya gas deal.

Arraignment ni dating Energy Sec. Alfonso Cusi at 10 iba pang dating opisyal ng DOE tungkol sa US$565-M Malampaya deal, ipinagpaliban ng Sandiganbayan | @dzrh5 Val Gonzales, DZRH News pic.twitter.com/vTxkJ4zTIa

— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) June 19, 2026

According to a report by Val Gonzales, the court reset the arraignment to June 26, pending the resolution of motions filed by the defense, including a request for a bill of particulars.

The motion seeks to require prosecutors to clarify the specific allegations and the alleged injury resulting from the questioned transfer of Chevron’s stake in the Malampaya project.

The case stems from the 2019 sale of Chevron’s 45-percent stake in the Malampaya natural gas-to-power project to Udenna Corporation, owned by businessman Dennis Uy, through its subsidiary UC Malampaya.

The Office of the Ombudsman filed graft charges against Cusi and several DOE officials in connection with the transaction, which allegedly involved the improper approval of the transfer of rights in the Malampaya gas-to-power project.

Investigators had earlier questioned whether UC Malampaya met the required financial and technical qualifications for the acquisition.

The Ombudsman launched its probe in 2022 following a Senate Energy Committee report raising concerns over the deal’s compliance with regulatory standards.

In its ruling, the Ombudsman found probable cause to charge Cusi and his co-accused with violating Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, which penalizes public officials for giving unwarranted benefits, advantages, or preferences to private parties through manifest partiality, evident bad faith, or gross inexcusable negligence.